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Chaffee County’s two-week positivity rate is down a bit at 2.03 percent, with 13 new cases in the past week and 22 new cases in the past 14 days. All but three of those who tested positive in the past week were symptomatic and all are currently resting at home.

Of the 58 cases in the past month, only one required hospitalization, and only 16.7 percent were asymptomatic. Forty-four individuals remain in isolation, and more than 50 percent of the cases have been from the county’s South end. This week’s cases bring the county to 1,090 COVID-19 cases and 25 deaths due to COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic last March.

Statewide, 1,277 COVID-19 cases were reported on Wednesday, April 21, along with 65 new hospital admissions. The state’s seven-day average is 1,413 and its seven-day positivity rate is 5.86 percent. There are 561 confirmed COVID-19 patients in Colorado’s hospitals, as well as 52 patients who are suspected to have COVID-19. About a third of the state’s adult critical care ventilators are in use.

Chaffee County adopted a new amended local Public Health Order on Wednesday, April 21, effective through August 31. These local changes are tied to the reductions in the state-level Dial framework on April 15.

  • The county’s mask mandate remains in place. Masks must be worn in indoor public spaces, regardless of how many people are present, except those who are specifically exempted in certain settings. This parallels the current state-wide mask mandate.
  • Participants at indoor events are capped to allow for six feet of social distancing, not including the event staff. The state’s social distancing calculator can be found at https://covid19.colorado.gov/distancing-calculator.
  • Outdoor events will be capped at 2,000 participants or attendees, excluding necessary event staff.
  • Event planners must include details on their COVID-19 mitigation plan within the health and safety plan when submitting their special event application to the county.
  • Schools and school-related activities will continue following guidance issued by the state for school operations. Non-school-related groups, sports, and activities must follow the general event guidelines.
  • Unvaccinated travelers are encouraged to get tested for COVID-19 before and after traveling and to self-quarantine according to CDC recommendations.
  • Chaffee County Public Health (CCPH) may adjust restrictions based on the county’s metrics at any time. Should local vaccination rates go above 70 percent, CCPH will review this order in an effort to loosen restrictions. If capacity at the Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center (HRRMC) or in the region exceeds 85 percent due to COVID-19, CCPH will review this order and impose any additional restrictions needed.

Vaccinations are continuing statewide as summer approaches, with vaccines now available to the general public age 16 and up. In Chaffee County, 57.3 percent of the eligible population has received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and 45.7 percent of the county’s population has been fully vaccinated. 17,334 doses have been administered in the county. Statewide, 1,537,312 Coloradans have been fully vaccinated, and 2,413,173 have received their first dose.

CCPH will be adjusting its vaccination clinic schedule to offer both COVID-19 vaccines as well as standard vaccinations for Chaffee County. All vaccinations require an advance appointment.

COVID vaccine recipients should ensure their availability for a second dose 28 days after the first dose for Moderna or 21 days after the first dose for Pfizer. CCPH also encourages coordinating small groups to get vaccinated together to help reduce vaccine waste due to the number of doses in each vial. Groups of four or more who schedule together will be offered a local gift card.

While CCPH is no longer running mass vaccination clinics, they will be hosting smaller clinics for the general public at the CCPH clinic offices (within the Touber Building at 448 East First St, Suite 137 in Salida) and at other locations and is developing plans for worksite- and organization-based group immunizations.

Those seeking a first dose appointment should contact CCPH at 719-539-4510 or health@chaffeecounty.org to schedule their vaccination. Second dose appointments associated with local mass vaccination clinics should still be scheduled through https://chaffeecounty.rsvpify.com/.

Upcoming CCPH vaccination clinics are as follows:

In order to get vaccinated, you must make an appointment and should bring your completed vaccination consent form to both appointments. Hard copies of the form are available at the Buena Vista and Salida libraries.

Fully vaccinated individuals may now:

  • Visit with other fully vaccinated people indoors without masks or physical distancing in small groups.
  • Visit with unvaccinated people from a single household who are at low risk for COVID-19 indoors without masks or physical distancing.
  • Refrain from quarantining and testing following a known exposure if they show no symptoms. They should still monitor themselves for two weeks and get tested and isolate if symptoms develop.

Appointment-only community testing clinics will be held at the Chaffee County Fairgrounds, 10165 County Road 120 Salida, CO 81201, on April 22, 26, 27, and 29 from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Positive result individuals should be in isolation until they meet the criteria to come out of quarantine.

Read the isolation letter and contact close friends and employers. Send close contacts the quarantine letter. A contact tracer will reach out within a few days. Quarantine guidelines can also be found on the state’s COVID-19 website, https://covid19.colorado.gov/how-to-quarantine.